By air: Norway has more than 50 airports in its large cities and towns, catering to both international and domestic flights. Oslo Airport Gardermoen is Norway’s main airport. There five airlines operating on domestic routes: Coast Air, Danish Air Transport, Norwegian, SAS Braathens, Widerøe. Due to the time and distances involved in overland travel, even budget travellers may want to consider a segment or two by air.

By rail: Norwegian State Railways operates an excellent, though limited, system of lines connecting Oslo with Stavanger, Bergen, Åndalsnes, Trondheim, Fauske and Bodø; lines also connect Sweden with Oslo, Trondheim and Narvik.

Travelling by train in Norway is expensive. It often costs less to fly than it does to catch a train. However, train travel can be affordable if you are familiar with the minipris system, or the train passes. Students get a 60/40% discount on departures marked green/white in timetables.

By bus: Buses on Norway’s extensive long-distance bus network are comfortable and punctual. Nor-Way Bussekspress operates the largest network of express buses in Norway, with routes connecting most towns and cities, from Mandal in the far south to Alta in the far north. Considerably cheaper are buses operated by Lavprisekspressen, which sells tickets over the Internet. So far, it only operates along routes from Oslo to Bergen, Trondheim and Kristiansand.

In northern Norway, there are several Togbuss (train-bus) routes, while elsewhere there’s also a host of local buses, most of which are confined to a single fylke (county). Most local and even some long-distance bus schedules are drastically reduced everywhere in Norway on Saturday, Sunday and in the low (usually mid-August to mid-June).

Buying tickets over the Internet is usually the best way to get the cheapest fare. Many bus companies offer student, child, senior and family discounts of 25% to 50%, so it pays to inquire when purchasing.

By bicycle: Given Norway’s great distances, hilly terrain and narrow roads, only serious cyclists engage in extensive cycle touring. Most of the tunnels, especially in the Western Fjords, are closed to nonmotorised traffic; in many (although not all) cases there are outdoor bike paths running parallel to the tunnels. If no such path exists, alternative routes may involve a few days’ pedaling around a long fjord or over a high mountain pass.

Rural buses, express ferries and nonexpress trains carry bikes for various additional fees (around Nkr100), but express trains don’t allow them at all and international trains treat them as excess baggage (Nkr250). Nor-Way Bussekspress charges half the adult fare to transport a bicycle.

By Car: Norwegian car-hire is costly and geared mainly to the business traveller. All major firms, such as Hertz, Avis, Budget and Europcar, have desks at many airports around the country and some city centres. Any speed-camera tickets are auto-matically paid through your credit card; always scrutinise your credit-card statements for months afterwards.

Some recommended dishes:

• Fårikål (mutton stew)
• Geitost (brown/red cheese popular in cooking and with bread)
• Lefse (potato flatbread common around Christmas time)
• Lutefisk (dried/salted whitefish)
• Rakfisk (salted and fermented fish eaten without cooking

Due to Norway’s unique geographical location, it showcases numerous breathtaking pristine wonders of nature.

• Bryggen Wharf (Bergen, Norway)
• Changing of the Guard (Oslo, Norway)
• Geirangerfjord (Western Norway)
• Holmenkollen Ski Jump (Holmenkollen, Norway)
• Jostedalsbreen (Sogn og Fjordane, Norway)
• Nidaros Cathedral (Trondheim, Norway)
• The North Cape (Finnmark, Norway)
• Vigeland Park (Oslo, Norway)
• Viking Ship Museum (Oslo, Norway)

• Royal Norwegian Embassy  in Singapore
• Visit Norway
• Lonely Planet Norway